Ethanol and Isopropanol Analysis in Hand Sanitizers by GC/FID

3rd Dec 2024

Ethanol and Isopropanol Analysis in Hand Sanitizers by GC/FID

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led to a shortage of hand sanitizers as people take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While hand sanitizers are hard to find for consumers, some companies with laboratory capabilities are stepping in to help meet demand by using their isopropanol and ethanol supplies to produce sanitizer.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are typically made with isopropyl alcohol or denatured ethanol, which are the primary ingredients. The effectiveness of the sanitizer depends on the alcohol concentration, which must comply with regulatory standards. For accurate results and excellent sample stability in high water-alcohol mixtures, Agilent’s DB-624 UI column has proven effective in resolving IPA, ethanol, fusel oils, and acetaldehyde when needed. Additionally, the DB-WAX column has shown to improve the quantification of alcohols in hand sanitizers.

For more guidelines and ordering information, check out our brochure on alcohol-based hand sanitizer analysis.

Chromatograms of hand sanitizer analysis

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